Ambiguity in categorizing cyber crime exists. Even so, since its launching of the Cyber Terror
Response Center (CTRC) in 2000, the Korean National Police Agency has put cyber crimes into two categories; one is ‘Cyber Terror Type Crime’ and the other is ‘General Cyber Crime.’

 

According to its original definition, ‘Cyber Terror Type Crime’ refers to attacks against the information
network itself such as hacking, mal-wares distribution and Denial-of-Service attacks. On the other hand, ‘General Cyber Crime’ refers to crime that uses cyber space as crime tool, for example Internet auction fraud or online child pornography distribution.

 

Although the word ‘hacking’ is also ambiguous, it has recently recognized as adopted foreign words into
Korean language by the National Academy of the Korean Language. By its adopted definition, ‘hacking’ means ‘criminal activity that includes intrusion into other’s computer or computer network.’ By the KNPA’s original definition of hacking, it included ‘malicious and criminal activities’ including security intrusion, ID theft, file altering and data theft, spam mailing and DoS attacking.

 

General Cyber Crime by CTRC context is traditional crime that takes place in cyberspace. Typical
examples of the general cyber crimes in Republic of Korea are auction fraud, piracy, service of illegal contents, defamation, ID theft, cyber stalking, cyber gambling, exchange of prohibited product, etc.